Pharmac says it's acting responsibly in the wake of concerns over a drug brand switch for epilepsy medication.

They have backed down on a drug brand switch for epilepsy patients which would have saved it $30 million over five years.

Medsafe says three people may have died following the switch which saw the funding of three brands of Lamotrigine reduced to one.

Pharmac medical director Dr Ken Clark told Andrew Dickens they care deeply about people and any savings are used for more medicines for Kiwis.

"This is not about saving money, it's about how we can get the very best medicines for New Zealanders."

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